Posted by
Christopher Van on Friday, January 30, 2009 6:13:16 AM
Why is it that Democrats worked so diligently to ram the so called stimulus package through Congress? Why is it that President Obama wanted Republican support when the Democrats already had enough votes to pass what can only be described as the biggest welfare check in history? Simple, liberals have a well founded concern that it will fail and they don’t want to shoulder the blame which is precisely what they will have to do when our recession turns to a full blown depression as a result of their gross financial negligence and economic illiteracy.
This $819 billion dollar stimulus package is like borrowing $10,400 dollars from every family in America. This is money that has to be paid back; if not by us then by our children and their children. This sum is greater than what the average family pays for food, clothing, and healthcare in an entire year! Think about it, if government spending solved recessions we would never have a recession.
Of the package, passed by Democrats, an estimated 6-12% of the items have any element of stimulus with the remainder being pork barrel waste. As an American I have to say that I am disgusted that our new president, who promised change and the end to politics as usual, is even entertaining this charade. Then again, he's proving to be exactly what I told you he'd be; a radical left wing socialist who cares nothing about the people but rather only about power.
Perhaps if investigative journalism were alive and well, which it is not, the public would be aware of the waste unanimously passed by Democrats without one single Republican vote. $87 billion dollars has been set aside for a Medicaid bailout, basically rewarding irresponsible government bureaucrats for their mismanagement. There are refundable tax credits for people who don’t pay taxes; in other words welfare. It includes $21 million dollars for sod and $200 million for repairs to the National Mall , $50 million for the National Endowment for the Arts, $650 million for digital TV coupons, $726 million for an after school snack program, $600 million for government cars and $335 million for the prevention of sexually transmitted diseases. Until just a few days ago this ridiculous spending spree included Democrat sponsored provisions for birth control for illegal aliens. Stimulation, perhaps; but stimulus no way.
FDR’s own Treasury Secretary Henry Morgenthau stated during the Great Depression, “We have tried spending money. We are spending more than we have ever spent before and it does not work.”
Instead of mortgaging the future of our children with this waste, why not do something that works like changing to our tax code. Instead of debating whether or not we should provide free abortions for illegal aliens, Congress should be discussing a repeal of the 16th Amendment and the implementation of the Fair Tax. What will work is making permanent the tax cuts of 2001 and 2003 that have been proven to work. We should reduce the marginal tax rates for individuals and businesses by 10%. Congress should eliminate the Alternative Minimum Tax and the Death Tax, which would spur economic growth. Lastly Congress should take it upon themselves to live within their means and end their reckless spending. Any combination of these will produce results, jobs and growth that simply are not possible with the biggest welfare check in the history of our Republic.
Christopher Van
www.christophervan.com